If you drive a car in the state of Massachusetts you are required by law to have a least a minimum amount of auto insurance. Massachusetts car insurance requirements include liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage as well as personal injury protection and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

The minimum amount of bodily injury liability coverage that you are required to have by law is $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident if more than one person is injured. You must also carry personal injury protection, or PIP coverage, that will pay up to $8000 for medical expenses and 75% of any lost wages for you or anyone driving your car if your vehicle is involved in an accident regardless of who is at fault.

The minimums for bodily injury caused by uninsured motorists are the same as the minimum for liability coverage which is $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident. Massachusetts car insurance requirements also state that you must carry a minimum of $5000 in property damage liability coverage.

The amounts discussed above are the absolute minimums required by law. Many drivers choose to carry more insurance than the legal minimums because these minimums may not be enough to cover damages arising from the accident. If you are at fault in an accident and the damages exceed the limits of your policy you will be required to pay the difference out of your pocket.

Massachusetts car insurance requirements also state that insurance companies must offer potential customers the option of purchasing a certain amount of coverage. It is up to the customer how much coverage they want to carry, if any, over and above the legal minimums but companies are required to offer the amounts listed below:

• Bodily injury liability and uninsured motorist coverage up to $35,000 per person/$80,000 per accident
• Personal injury protection benefits up to $8,000 per person/per accident
• Property damage liability up to $5,000 per accident
• Comprehensive and Collision coverage subject to a deductible of $500 must be offered unless you have an excessive history of claims
• Medical payments insurance of at least $5,000